loose by the feudal-criminal-police-politician nexus, the peasant movement is surging ahead in West Champaran, one of the last surviving feudal bastions of Bihar. On July 27, Kisan Sangh goons in uniform, on the behest of landlord Baldev Prasad, attacked poor peasants in Araria-Barava village. The villagers, mostly women, mistook them for policemen, and began to resist them; they then opened fire, killing 65-year-old widow Tetaria Devi and seriously injuring 35 year old Krishnawati Devi. They burnt two houses and looted lakhs of property from around one and a half dozen houses; they tore the clothes of two women and tried to rape them. The Police, instead of arresting the criminals, took 20 villagers into custody. On the next day, when Com. Birendra Gupta, Bihar State Committee member of CPI(ML) visited the spot, he was abducted along with three other comrades and severely beaten. It seems that the abductors, in collusion with the police, had planned to kill him: in fact, when our district secretary was present when the S.P. received a call from the kidnappers asking him what to do with Comrade Gupta! Seriously injured, Comrade Gupta was later freed by the kidnappers but brought to Betia and placed in the police lock-up. However, as soon as the news of kidnapping spread, a massive protest began. In the night itself, the road near Belva village was dug up and blocked. Next day there was a day-long road blockade in Mainatand. Attempts were made to stop trains in Sikata. The Betia-Mainatand road was blocked for the whole day. Com.Gupta was later taken to hospital and released. However, none of the culprits has been arrested so far. In fact, according to the police case, the poor people themselves are being held responsible for the murder of Tetaria Devi and there is no mention of Com.Gupta‘s kidnapping. This is the travesty of justice under President‘s rule in Bihar!
On August 7, a mammoth Sankalp Sabha was organized in Pipara Chowk, where thousands of poor peasants pledged to carry forward the dreams and struggles of Shaheed Com. Tetaria Devi. Addressing the Sankalp Sabha, Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said that the battle for country‘s freedom started from Champaran. India became free but the poor of Champaran could not get freedom. Bihar was the first state where land reform was implemented but still there are thousands of acres of surplus ceiling land under illegal occupation of feudal-princely estates in Champaran. Where pattas were distributed, landlords got them cancelled with the help of courts and are dispossessing the poor from the land. Araria-Barava is the most glaring example of dispossession of the patta- holders under court protection. Com. Ramji Rai, Central Committee member, Com. Birendra Prasad Gupta, Bihar State Committee Member and Com. Vidyanand Vikal, State Secretary, AIALA also addressed the meeting.
A sustained movement continues demanding the arrest of Baldev Prasad, Kisan Sangh ring-leader Madhu Verma, Sheikh Mosannif, Ramji Yadav and Jahangir; a ban on the Kisan Sangh - the Ranvir Sena of Champaran; ensuring possession of the patta holders on the land; as well as seizure of arms of the Kisan Sangh goons. A Memorandum was submitted to the D.I.G. in Champaran. A Dharna was organized in Bagaha on August 12 and at the District H.Q. on August 16 under the AIPWA banner. On August 17, CPI(ML) held a Dharna at the district H.Q. A mass campaign is ongoing which will culminate in August 24 Bihar Bandh.
Obviously, this battle of the poor under CPI(ML) leadership has disturbed the age old monopoly and peace of the feudal estates of West Champaran - because these poor are fighting not only for land, wages and dignity but they are also forcefully asserting as political force. CPI(ML)’s polling second in the Sikta assembly segment in 2000, was a real cause of worry for them. Led by Dilip Verma of Shikarpur state, who is MLA of Sikta, they made massive preparations to crush the battle of the poor. In the last assembly election, they ensured cancellation of the nomination papers of our candidates from Sikta and Shikarpur, both assembly segments. However Dilip Verma‘s votes drastically declined from 56 thousands in the last election to 26 thousands, thanks to the sustained struggle of the poor against him. This feudal lord-turned politician was so infuriated that, in his cadre meeting, he declared a reward of 150 acres of land for killing or helping arrest of Com. Shambhu Yadav (Harendra), CPI(ML) State Committee Member. All political parties are actually tools in the hands of the estates and Shikarpur is the foremost among them. Their kith and kin hold major positions in all political parties. They control all panchayat-Raj institutions from village to Zila Panchayat level. Owning 3500 acres of land, the Shikarpur estate controls all economic resources in the district. Apart from cinema halls, factories, shops etc, they run NGOs also for cheap popularity and, of course, easy money. To retain their Raj, they resort to all sorts of fraudulent, hypocritical games as well as cruel repression. They did not let parties from CPI to CPI(ML)TND function in that area. However, if the spirit of Com. Krishnavati, (who sustained a bullet injury in Araria and declared ‘We will never leave the Party’) is any signal, the Raj of the estates is sure to end.